Advances and Current Applications of Two-dimensional Force Sensors

Abstract

Multidimensional force sensors, serving as critical components of intelligent devices, have attracted considerable attention for their widespread applications across automated manufacturing, aerospace engineering, and medical technologies. The careful selection of suitable multidimensional force sensors tailored to specific force measurement scenarios is of paramount importance. Notably, two-dimensional force sensors, which enable the simultaneous detection of planar two-dimensional force components, have emerged as a prominent research focus with the ongoing expansion of low-dimensional force measurement applications. This study seeks to provide a comprehensive review of advancements in two-dimensional force sensors. Initially, it presents an in-depth analysis of the sensing mechanisms, dimensions, materials, and measurement ranges of these sensors, culminating in the identification of optimal application scenarios for each type. Furthermore, the elastomer, a pivotal determinant of sensor measurement performance, is systematically examined in terms of its configuration designs. This review also explores the applications of two-dimensional force sensors in intelligent manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical engineering, and human-computer interaction. Lastly, this paper evaluates the current state of applications to pinpoint critical technological challenges and offers insights into the future trajectories of two-dimensional force sensor development.